Sioux Falls Regional Airport to add animal relief area

Pets traveling through the Sioux Falls Regional Airport will soon have a new space to call their own.

This summer, the airport is converting its former yoga area near Gate 4 to an animal relief space.

It will be wheelchair accessible, include a sink and have artificial turf — even a toy hydrant.

People will be asked to pick up after their animals, but the surface of the area will be automatically cleaned with water after people and animals leave the room.

Executive director Dan Letellier said that in addition to service animals that assist people who are blind, airports increasingly are accommodating animals such as dogs that provide owners emotional support.

“Even in Sioux Falls, we are seeing more and more animals,” he said.

The airport is working on a potential new area for yoga, Letellier said.

Traveling animals on the first floor can relieve themselves outside, he said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airports to provide service animal relief areas. Larger airports must provide at least one relief area inside each terminal building.